Procedure guide · Immigration and citizenship
Naturalization in Panama: How to Apply for Panamanian Citizenship
How to apply for Panamanian citizenship by naturalization: years of residence for your case, renunciation, solvency, the Electoral Tribunal exam and oath.
- Authority
- National Immigration Service
- Exam
- Electoral Tribunal, with exemptions
- Final step
- Oath and publication in the Official Gazette
- Updated
On this page
In short
The naturalization letter (carta de naturaleza) is the document that grants Panamanian citizenship to a foreigner. You apply through a lawyer with the Naturalization Department of the National Immigration Service, after several years of permanent residency that depend on your case. It requires you to expressly renounce your citizenship, prove solvency and good conduct and, unless exempt, pass an Electoral Tribunal knowledge exam.
How many years of residence do you need?
It depends on the paragraph of Article 10 of the Constitution your application is based on: 5 years of permanent residence as a general rule (paragraph 1), 3 years if you have a Panamanian spouse or children (paragraph 2) and, for nationals of Spain and Latin American countries, the period their country requires of Panamanians (paragraph 3).
Through reciprocity, Immigration applies these periods of permanent residency to some countries: 1 year for El Salvador; 2 years for Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, and Spain; 3 years for Uruguay.
Requirements
- A power of attorney and application through a Panamanian lawyer, addressed to the President of the Republic, with your express and irrevocable renunciation of your citizenship and your wish to acquire Panamanian citizenship.
- A sworn statement before a notary with the reasons for the application and the renunciation.
- A Panamanian criminal record certificate (police record) and proof of no criminal record in your country of residence for the last five years or in your country of origin.
- A copy of your permanent resident ID card authenticated by the Electoral Tribunal and a certificate of your immigration status.
- Economic solvency, with two of these proofs: tax returns for the last two years, a bank letter, an employment letter with your CSS record, a pension certificate, or an investment in property or a business.
- A tax clearance certificate (paz y salvo) from the DGI (see RUC and NIT).
- A full copy of your passport, authenticated by your consulate and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and a medical certificate of good health.
- The naturalization interview form, completed by you.
- If you apply based on a Panamanian spouse or children, their Civil Registry certificates; if based on reciprocity, your country's reciprocity law, authenticated.
Required documents
Power of attorney, application and sworn statement
With the renunciation of your citizenship
Panamanian police record
- Apostille or legalisation
Criminal record from your country of residence or origin
Permanent resident ID card
Authenticated by the Electoral Tribunal
Proof of solvency
Two of the accepted proofs
DGI tax clearance certificate
Full passport
Authenticated by your consulate and by Foreign Affairs
Medical certificate and immigration status certificate
Naturalization interview form
Step by step
01
Filing and opening of the case
Your lawyer files the application with the Naturalization Department of the National Immigration Service.
02
Review of the file
An analyst reviews it. If there are issues, Immigration publishes the list of files that need corrections and gives a deadline to fix them.
03
Admission and public notice
If the application is complete, it is admitted and a public notice (edicto) is published.
04
Exam and decision
You take the knowledge exam at the Electoral Tribunal, unless exempt, and Immigration decides.
05
Naturalization letter
The Ministry of Public Security and the Presidency sign it if appropriate, and you are notified.
06
Oath and publication
You take the oath at the Governor's Office and the letter is published in the Official Gazette. You then apply for your cédula and your Panamanian passport.
Costs
- Tax stamps and certificates
- Depends on each document
- Authentications, translations and apostilles
- Variable
- Lawyer's fees
- Depends on the case
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to take the knowledge exam?
Yes, unless you are exempt. Exemptions apply to nationals of Spain and Latin American countries who show that their country exempts Panamanians from that requirement, people who have studied those subjects at schools in Panama and, with an adapted test, people with disabilities.
Will I lose my original citizenship?
Renunciation is a requirement in Panama, but its effects depend on your country's law (see Panamanian citizenship and dual citizenship).
When do the years of residence start counting?
Immigration counts them as years of permanent residency. If you started with a provisional permit, check when you obtained permanent status (see permanent residency).
Can I leave Panama in the meantime?
Yes, but long absences count: if you have not been away for more than three months during the required period, you can prove you have no criminal record with a sworn statement; otherwise you will need certificates from the country where you lived.